Magazine rocket launcher



Aug. 1, 1950 MOTLEY MAGAZINE ROCKET LAUNCHER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1945 Q I Tm k L. MOTLEY 2,517,333

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Q Q? Q N m U\ Q 0 Udall! WW N H 1.. 1 H m I ll 7 yr \\\\\\\ww 1 MAGAZINE ROCKET LAUNCHER Aug. 1, 1950 Filgd Sept. 5, 1945 L. MOTLEY MAGAZINE ROCKET LAUNCHER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 1, 1950 File ad Sept. 5, 1945 m, wwvw n m wn Aug. 1, 1950 L. MOTLEY 2,517,333

MAGAZINE ROCKET LAUNCHER Filed Sept. 5, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 1, 1950 MOTLEY MAGAZINE ROCKET LAUNCHER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 5, 1945 Patented Aug. 1, 1950 MAGAZINE ROCKET LAUNCHER Lewis Motley, London, England Application September 5, 1945, Serial No. 614,501 In Great Britain April 4, 1944 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires April 4, 1964 19 Claims. I

This invention relates to projectiles of the self-propelled or rocket type.

The object of the invention is the provision of improvements in connection with such projectiles and, in its broadest aspect, the invention consists of a launching mechanism for such projectiles, wherein the projectiles are fed, one by one, into the firing position at the rear of the launching tube, each one when it reaches the firing position being automatically fired, whereupon the next one is automatically fed into the firing position and so on.

In order that the invention may be the more clearly understood,- two launching apparatuses in accordance therewith will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an exterior side elevation of one of said apparatuses with a part broken away.

Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a plan of the same shown in section on line (3-D of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross section of the same on line A--B of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view or a detail.

Figure 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating the electrical circuits employed.

Figure 7 is a sectional side elevation of the other apparatus.

Figure 8 is a cross section on Figure 7.

Referring to the drawings, the reference I designates the rear end of the launching tube proper. Secured to the rear of said launching tube l is a breech chamber 2 which consists essentially of a rear extension of said launching tube and is adapted to receive and locate each successive round 3 with the nose of said round directed forwardly towards said launching tube and the base of said round exposed to the atmosphere. The rounds are stacked in a magazine chute not shown which is mounted on the top of the breech chamber 2, and the rounds in said magazine chute are biased downwardly so that each lowermost round is fed laterally downwards into position in said breech chamber. Thus, as each round is fired, the next one automatically takes its place and so on.

The rounds are fired by means of a striker 5 actuated by means of a solenoid 6. The striker line E-F of energised.

5 has a cocked position shown in full lines in Figure 2 and a striking position shown in dotted I lines, and the arrangement is such that, each/ The control of fire is efiected by means of a firing button switch 1 (Figure 6) and a three position preselector switch 8. The preselector switch 8 has two pairs of contacts 8a and 8b and. when it is at the "safe position, both pairs of contacts are open, and the closure of the firing button switch 1 is without effect. When said selector switch is at the auto" position, the contacts 8a only are closed and, when the firing button switch 1 is then closed, a circuit is established through said contacts 811 and through contacts 9 which close only when the round is in the firing position, which circuit energises the solenoid 6, whereupon the round is fired. When the round consequently moves forwardly, the said contacts 9 open and the solenoid is de-energised until the next round is fed into place, whereupon the solenoid is again energised and so on. Thus, assuming the firing button switch 1 to be held closed, the solenoid will be repeatedly energised and de-energised and rounds will be repeatedly launched in succession.

When said selector switch 8 is at the single position, the contacts 8b are additionally closed, and the consequence of this is that, once the solenoid 8 is energised, a maintaining circuit is established therefor which is in shunt with the said contacts 9, said maintaining circuit including the said contacts 8b and contacts Ill which close when said solenoid is energised. Thus so long as the firing button switch 1 remains depressed the solenoid will remain energised, and the firing button I must, therefore, be released and again depressed for firing each round.

Describing now, in more detail, the actuation of the striker 5, this consists, as shown of a lever pivoted about an axis II and carrying a striker pin Ed at its free end. Said striker is formed with a shoulder 5b and, for retaining said striker at the cocked position, a sear ii of hell crank form is provided which pivots about an axis I3 and one end of which engages said shoulder 5b as shown in Figure 2. The striker is biased to the striking position by means of a spring l4 and the sear is biased to the retaining position by means of a spring [5.

when the solenoid 6 is energised the plunger time the solenoid 6 is energised, the striker is It thereof, which is biased to the left by means of aforesaid contacts 9.

a normal up position at which it projects into a spring (not shown), moves to the right and presses to the right a lever I1 which pivots about an axis l8. This lever IT has pivotally mounted on its free end, a pawl |9 whose extremity, when the plunger is at the norm-a1 position, engages, as shown, in a notch at the end of the sear l2 remote from the striker 5. Said lever i1 is biased so as to bear against the right hand end of the plunger l6 and said pawl I9 is biased relative to said lever so as to bear against a fixed stud 2|. When said lever I1 is pressed to the right upon energisation of the solenoid, said pawl l3 moves the sear l2, in opposition to its controlling spring l5 so that it disengages the shoulder 50 on the striker 5, whereupon said striker springs to the firing position and the round is fired. The lever l'l continues moving for some distance after the sear l2 has released the striker and during this movement the pawl I9 is guided by the stud 2| so that its extremity moves clear of the end of the sear l2, and the latter accordingly springs back to the retaining position against the striker, ready again to retain the striker when the latter is returned to the cooked position. Not until the solenoid is again de-energised can the pawl l9 return to operative engagement with the sear I2.

For return of the striker 5 to the cooked position, a recocking shoe 22 is provided which projects into the breech chamber 2 in the path of the round. This recocking shoe'is pivoted about a transverse pin 23 to the under side of the breech chamber and has a rigidly projecting arm 24 the end of which is pivotally connected to one end of a connecting rod 25 whose other end carries a slotted plate 21, the slot of which is engaged by a pin 26 projecting from the striker 5. The arrangement is such that when the round moves to the launching tube the recocking shoe 22 is pressed down about its pivot 23 and the rod 25 accordingly moves to the right and the pin 26 is engaged by the left hand end of the slot of the plate 21 and the striker is forced to the cocked position. When the round has passed said shoe 22 the latter is free, to return under a suitable bias to the up position, leaving the striker at the cocked position.

It will thus be seen that, as before stated, each time the solenoid is energised, a round is fired, an interval of de-energisation being necessary before each fire.

Describing now in some detail the electric circuits by which the energisation of the solenoid 6 is controlled, a lever 28 is provided which is rigid on a shaft 29 mounted on the under side of the breech chamber and said shaft has another lever 30 rigid therewith, which carries one of the Said lever 28 is biased to the breech chamber 2, and at that position the said contact 9 is out of engagement with the other contact 9 which is fixed. Each time a round comes into the firing position, it presses the lever 28 to a down position at which the movable contact 9 engages the fixed contact 9. Referring particularly to Figure 6 which shows the wiring circuit, it will be seen that, assuming the selector'switch 3 to be at the auto position with the contacts 8a closed and the contacts 8b open, upon closure of the firing button switch 1, circuit is established from a source 33, through said switch 1, the contacts 8a and the contacts 9, and also through contacts 34, 35, which will be hereinafter described, to and through the sole-v noid 6 which will accordingly be energised thereby firing the round as described. When the round accordingly passes clear of the lever 28,

said lever moves to the up position interrupting the solenoid circuit at the contacts 9, until the next round reaches the firing position when the.

contacts 9 again close, again energising the solenoid and firing the. said next round, and so on so long as the switch 1 remains closed.

' One of the aforesaid contacts I0 is mounted on a lever 31 rigid on a shaft 38, and said lever is biased by means of a spring 39 to a position at which said contact |0' engages the other contact l0 which is'fixed. Said shaft 38 has another lever 31a rigid thereon which engages the plunger I6 of the solenoid 6 in such a way that, when the solenoid is de-energised, the'movable contact In is held out of engagement with the fixed con- .tact I0, but that when the solenoid is energised the contacts ID are permitted to close.

Assuming now that the selector switch 8 is at the single position so that both contacts 8a and 8b are closed, upon depression of the firing button I, the solenoid 6 will be energised as before, and, as before, the round will be' fired and -the contacts 9 opened. In the meantime, how-- ever, the energisation of the solenoid has effected the closure of the contacts l0, and therefore, de-

spite the opening of the contacts 9, the solenoid will remain energised through the switch I, the contacts 8b and said contacts Ill.

As before stated, therefore, the solenoid will remain energised until the firing button 1 is reopened, and said firing button thus has to be released and again depressed each time a round is to be fired.

The purpose of the aforesaid contacts 34, 35 is to provide a further safeguard preventing the possibility of the solenoid being energised before a round is fully at the firing position. Thus, as best seen in Figures 1 and 4, two similar pawls 4| and 42 are mounted on the side of the breech chamber 2. Each of these pawls is pivoted about a pivot pin 43 and projects into the path of the rounds as they move down to the firing position. As will be clear from Figure 4 each round, as it moves down into the firing position, presses the pawls 4| and 42 out of its path, until, when the round reaches the full down position, the pawls spring back behind it (under a bias) and form a means for positively holding the round firmly down at the firing position.

The pawl 4| has in engagement with it a lever 44 rigid on a shaft 44a which has another lever 44b rigid on it. The lever 44 engages said pawl 4| as shown and the lever 44b carries the contact 34. Said lever 44 is biased by means of a spring 45 to the position at which the contact 34 engages the contact 35, but it is only permitted to move to that position when the pawl 4| has returned to the projecting position behind the lowermost round, that is when said round is fully at the firing position. Therefore, until the round is at the full firing position the circuit for energising the solenoid cannot be established and the round cannot be fired.

The striker 5 could be of the percussion firing type. Actually, in the arrangement shown, the firing is effected electrically the striker pin being always connected to the source 33 when the solenoid is energised as willbe clear from Figure 6. Thus when the striker pin strikes the corresponding contact on the round a firing circuit is established to earth and the round is fired.

The reference 46 designates-ashutter which projects into the path of the round immediately in front thereof and is capable of beingmoved aside, in opposition to a spring bias, by the round itself. It is found that a shutter of this character is necessary, otherwise each round, imme-. diately it reaches the firing position, is liable to be drawn by suction in the wake of the preceding round.

As shown this shutter 46 is pivoted on a transverse horizontal pivot pin 41 above the forward portion of the breech chamber. and extends downwardly into said breech chamber. Said shutter 46 has rigid therewith an arm 48 projecting from its upper end beyond the pivot pin and said arm 48 is pivoted to one end of a link 49, whose other end is pivoted to a horizontal transverse cross head 50 which slides along two horigontal longitudinal rods 5|. Said cross head is biased by means of compression springs 52 to the position Y 'such that the shutter 46' extends'downwardly and a little rearwardly as shown, so as to be actually engaged by the nose of the round when this is fed into the firing position. When the round is fired the shutter 46 is forced to the left about its axis 41 and the cross head is accordingly drawn to the right in opposition to the springs 52. These springs return the shutter 46 immediately the round has passed and are sufficiently strong to prevent the succeeding round being drawn in the wake of the said round.

It is believed that the structural details will be sufllciently clear from the drawings. Thus the breech chamber 2 consists of an integral casting, the main portion of which is of the same length as the rounds and is open at the top and formed for receiving the magazine chute aforesaid. Said casting also has a forward tubular portion 2a which is joined to the rear end of the launching tube proper I as clearly shown.

A casing 53 is provided which is mounted on the underside of the breech chamber at the rear end. The pivoted end of the striker is mounted in this casing and the striker end projects therefrom as shown. Said casing 53 also encloses the sear l2, the lever II, the pawl 19 and their associated parts, and also the spring l4. The solenoid I8 is mounted on the outside of said casing 53 at its forward end and the plunger l6 projects through to operate the lever II as shown.

The switch 8 and also the electrical contacts 9, III, 34, 35, together with the contact carrying parts, are all contained in a casing 54 mounted at the side of the breech chamber 2 as clearly shown. This casing has a cover plate 55 and the operating handle 56 of the switch 8 is mounted on the outside of said cover plate as shown only in Figure 1. This operating handle 56 is fast on a shaft 51 which carries an insulating cam 58 and said cam controls the contacts In and 8b as is shown suflicientlyclearly in Figure 5.

The pivot pin 43 of each of the two pawls 4|, 42 is mounted between the lugs of a bracket member 59 screwed on to the outside of the breech chamber as shown and the pawl extends through a slot in the side wall of said breech chamber. The shaft 44a, which carries the levers 44 and 44b, bears in the adjacent wall of the casing 54. In the case of the pawl 4|, the spring 45 biasing the lever 44 afiords the necessary bias for said pawl. In the case of the pawl 42 a similar spring 8|! is provided for biasing said pawL The shutter 46 together with its controlling springs 52 is incorporated in a detachable unit. This unit comprises a base member 6| havin blocks 62 mounted on its upper surface between pairs of which the longitudinal rods 5| extend and between one pair of which the transverse pin 41 extends. Said base member 6| is detachabLV mounted by means of nuts 63 on the upper surface 6 of the portion 2a of the breech chamber. A slot is formed in said base member 6| as shown to give passage to the shutter 46 and a similar slot is of jection 2a are substantially the same as in the previous-construction and the rounds 3 are fed downwardly into said breech chamber as in said previous construction.

Also the rounds are fired by means of a striker 5 which pivots about a pin II in substantially the same way as in the preceding construction. The manner in which said striker 5 is actuated t0 the firing position in response to a lever ll moving to the right is exactly as described in connection with the preceding construction, as also is the manner in which said striker is automatically recocked in response to the consequent forward movement of the round. Therefore, no further description of these functions will be given beyond pointing out that the references 517, I2, I3, l4, l5, ll, |8, |9, 2|, 22, 23, 24, 25, 2B and 21 are applied to similar parts as in the preceding construction.

Instead of the two pawls 4| and 42 of the preceding construction, a single wider pawl 64 is mounted on the side of the breech chamber 2. This pawl is rigid on a rotatable shaft 65 and projects into the path of the rounds in just the same way as said pawls 4| and 42, and is adapted to be similarly pressed aside as each round moves to the firing position.

Mounted on the shaft 65 is a pinion 66 and said pinion is in engagement with rack teeth on the upper end of a vertical rack 61 whose lower end has teeth which engage a pinion 68 which is rigid with a quadrant 69 whose arcuate surface has a shoulder 10. As shown, this quadrant 69 abuts against the left hand end of a longitudinally slidable rod II whose right hand end abuts against the lever II.

A sear I2 of bell crank form pivots about an axis I3 and is biased by means of a spring I4 so that one end is adapted to engage the shoulder 10. A trigger 15 is provided at the bottom end of a lever 16 which is pivoted at its upper end on a pivot pin 11. When said trigger is pulled, said lever I8 is moved to the right and presses to the right a lever 18 which pivots about a pivot pin 19. This lever 18 has, pivotally mounted on its free end, a pawl whose extremity, when the trigger is at the normal position, engages as shown, in a notch at the end of the sear I2. Said lever I8 is biased so as to bear against the right hand side of the trigger lever 15, and said pawl 80 is biased relative to said lever 18 so as to bear against a cam-shaped stud 8| which is rotatable about an axis 82. This stud 8| acts as the selector element to determine whether the firing is to be automatic so long as the trigger I5 is retained pulled, or whether the trigger must be released and re-pulled each time a round i to be fired. Thus, if the stud 8| is rotated to the auto position as shown, the movement of the pawl 80 when the trigger I is pulled will be such that the end of said pawl maintains contact with said notch in the sear 12 throughout and not only rotates said sear so as to cause it to disengage the shoulder ID but holds it away from the quadrant 69 so long as the trigger is pulled. If, however, said stud 8| is rotated to the left so that its cam surface portion of maximum radius engages said pawl 80, the movement of said pawl when the trigger is pulled will be such that, after it has moved the sear 12 to cause it to disengage the shoulder I0, it will disengage the notch in said sear I2 and the latter will spring back into contact with the quadrant 69.

The operation will now be clear. Normally, when the trigger I5 is not depressed, the striker 5 will be latched by the sear I2 at the cocked position, and the quadrant 69 will be latched by the sear 12 at a position such that the pawl 64 is out Of the path of the rounds as shown in Figure 8. Assuming that the stud 8| is set at the .auto position as shown, if now the trigger I5 is pulled, the sear I2, as before explained will be moved and retained away from the quadrant 69 and the latter will spring to the right, the pawl GI at the same time springing to the position at which it projects into the path of th rounds and positively prevents any retrograde upward movement of the lowermost round. This snap movement of the sear I2 and pawl 64 may be effected by means of a suitable spring, acting on the pawl 64.

This movement of the quadrant 68 to the right also effects the movement of the rod II and therefore of the lever II to the right and, as explained in connection with the first construction, the sear I2 is rocked so as to release the striker 5 which springs to the firing position and fires the round, after which the sear I2, being disengaged from the end of the pawl I9, returns against said striker and, when the consequent forward movement of the round depresses the recocking shoe 22 and returns the striker said sear again latches said striker at the cooked position.

When the round has passed from the breech chamber 2, the next higher round moves down to the lowermost position and, in so doing presses the pawl 64 out of its path back to the position shown in Figure 8. This causes the quadrant 69 to be returned to the left, and the rod II, lever I1 and pawl I9 therefore also return to the left, and the latter again engages the notched end of the sear l2. Immediately, however, the round passes the pawl 84 and fully reaches the firing position, said pawl 64 springs back to the projecting position, since the sear I2 is held so that it cannot latch the quadrant 69. Thus the new lowermost round is fired and the cycle will continue to be repeated, rounds being successively fired so long as the trigger I5 is retained at the pulled position.

When the stud is set at the single position, upon the trigger being pulled, the sear I2 will again liberate the quadrant 69, and as before the round will be fired, but since, as previously described, the pawl 80 now moves clear of the notch in the sear I2 and the latter springs back against the quadrant 69, when the next round passes down to the lowermost position and presses the pawl 6| out of it path thereb returning the quadrant 9 to the right, the sear I2 will latch said quadrant, and the next round cannot be fired until after the trigger has been released, thereby returning the pawl 80 into en- 8 gagement with the sear I2. Then when the trig-' ger is again pulled the same cycle is repeated.

In construction it will be seen that the whole of the trigger mechanism is housed in a casing 83 which is mounted on the bottom of the breech chamber and is formed with a hand grip 84 as shown.

The shaft 65 of the pawl 64 is mounted on a suitable bracket 85 which is detachably mounted on the outside wall of the breech chamber 2, said bracket comprising lugs 86 which form bearings for said shaft and which serve ,to locate axially the pawl 64 and pinion 66. The reference 8'! designates the opening in the wall of the breech chamber giving access to the pawl 64.

Although in Figures 7 and 8 a shutter corresponding to the shutter 46 of the preceding figures has not been shown it will be quite clear that such may be employed if desired.

It will, of course, be understood that, in the arrangement of Figures 7 and 8, the rounds are fired by percussion only, the firing pin of the striker not being electrically energised.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A launching apparatus for projectiles of the self-propelled type which carry their own propelling charge, comprising locating means adapted to locate each successive projectile at a firing position, feed means adapted to feed the projectiles to said locating means, firing mechanism adapted to be actuated from a nonoperative state to an operative state at which it is adapted to fire a projectile which is at said firing position, interlock means adapted to be controlled by the projectiles themselves for preventing said firing mechanism from being actuated to the operative state during the feeding of each projectile into the firing position and until said projectile is fully insaid firing position, a recocking shoe which normally projects into the discharge path of the projectiles and is adapted, when'each projectile moves forwardly along said discharge path, to be pressed out of said discharge path, and transmission means whereby, in response to said recocking shoe being pressed out of said discharge path, said firing mechanism is returned to said nonoperative state.

2. A launching apparatus for projectiles of the self-propelled type which carry their own propelling charge, comprising locating means adapted to locate each successive projectile at a firing position, feed means adapted to feed the projectiles to said locating means, firing mechanism adapted to be actuated from anon-operative state to an operative state at which it is adapted to fire a projectile which is at said firing position, a recocking shoe which normally projects into the discharge path of the projectiles and is adapted, when each projectile moves forwardly along said discharge path, to be pressed out of said discharge path, and transmission means whereby, in response to said recocking shoe being pressed out of said discharge path, said firing mechanism is returned to said non-operative state.

3. A launching apparatus for projectiles of the self-propelled type which carry their own propelling charge, comprising locating means adapted to locate each successive projectile at a firing position, feed means adapted to feed the projectiles to said locating means, a firing element movable from a non-operative position to an operative position at which it is adapted to fire a projectile which is at said firing position, a latch normally retaining said firing element at said non-operative position, an oscillatable pawl, said pawl when moved in one direction being first adapted to actuate said latch for unlatehing said firing element, and,'by continued movement in the same direction to liberate said latch to return ready to relatch said firing element, said pawl when moved in the other direction returning to the position for re-engaging said latch, a recocking shoe which normally projects into the discharge path of the projectiles and is adapted, by each projectile in moving forwardly along said discharge path, to be pressed out of said path, and transmission means whereby, in response to said recocking shoe being pressed out of said path, said firing element is returned to the non-operative position where it is relatched by said latch.

.4. A launching apparatus for projectiles of the 20 self-propelled type which carry their own propelling charge, comprising locating means adapted to locate each successive projectile at a firing position, feed means adapted to feed a succession of said projectiles along a given path to said locating means, firing mechanism adapted v to be actuated from a non-operative state to an operative state at which it is adapted to fire a projectile which is at said firing position, an electric circuit, means whereby said firing mechanism is adapted to be actuated to the operative state in response to each initiation of energisation of said electric circuit, first and second tile when it is at said firing position, and means 4 for positively interrupting said electric circuit when either said first control member is out of its normal position or said second control member is at its normal position.

5. A launching apparatus for projectiles of the 50 self-propelled type which carry their own propelling charge, comprising locating means adapted to locate each successive projectile at a firing position, feed means adapted to feed a succession of said projectiles along a given path to said locating means, firing mechanism adapted to be actuated from a non-operative state to an operative state at which it is adapted to fire a projectile which is at said firing position, first and second biased control members, said first control member having a normal position in said given path and being adapted to be pressed out of said path by each leading projectile and to spring back tosaid normal position behind said leading projectile when the latter is at said firing position and said second control member having a normal position at which itextends into the space occupied by the leading projectile when at the firing position, andbeing adapted to be pressed from said normal position by the leading 70 projectile when at said firing position, means for actuating said firing mechanism to the operative state when both said first control member is at its normal position and said second control member is out of its normal position, a recocking shoe 75 10 which normally projects into the discharge path oi. the projectiles and is adapted, when each projectile moves forwardly along said discharge path, to be pressed out of said discharge path, and transmission means whereby, in response to said recocking shoe being pressed out of said discharge path, said firing mechanism is returned to said non-operative state.

6. A launching apparatus for projectiles of the self-propelled type which carry their own propelling charge, comprising locating means adapted to locate each successive projectile at a firing position, feed means adapted to feed the projectiles to said locating means, firing mechanism adapted to be actuated from a nonoperative state to an operative state at which it is adapted to fire a projectile which is at said firing position, recocking means adapted, in response to the movement of each projectile in discharging, to return said firing mechanism to said non-operative state, a preselector element having an auto position and a single-shot position, a manual element having an oil position and an on position, interlock means adapted to be controlled by the projectiles themselves, and means whereby, when said preselector element is at the auto" position, and said manual element is at the "on position, said interlock means actuate said firing mechanism to the operative state each time a projectile is fed fully into the firing position, and, when said preselector element is at the single-shot" position, said interlock means prevent said firing mechanism from being actuated to the operative state during the feeding of each projectile into the firing position and until said projectile is fully in said firing position, the operation of said firing mechanism to the operative state then being efi'ected each time said manual element is moved from the ofi to the on position.

7. A launching apparatus for projectiles of the self-propelled type which carry their own propelling charge, comprising locating 'means adapted to locate each successive projectile at a firing position, feed means adapted to feed a succession of said projectiles along a given path to said locating means, firing mechanism adapted to be actuated from a non-operative state to an operative state at which it is adapted to fire a projectile which is at said firing position, recocking means adapted, in response to the move ment of each projectile in discharging, to return said firing mechanism to said non-operative state, a preselector element having an auto" position and a single-shot position, a manual element having an oiT position and an on position, an electric circuit, means whereby said firing mechanism is adapted to be actuated to the operative position in response to each initiation of energisation of said electric circuit, first and second biased control members, said first control member having a normal position in said given path and being adapted to be pressed out of said path by each leading projectile and to spring back to said normal position behind said leading projectile when the latter is at said firing position, and said second control member having a normal position at which it extends into the space occupied by the leading projectile when at said firing poswion, and being adapted to be pressed from said normal position by the leading projectile when it is at said firing position, first contacts in series in said circuit, adapted to be closed or opened according to whether said manual element is at the-on or "of!" position, second contacts in series in said circuit adapted to be closed or opened according to whether said first control member is at, or out of, its normal position, third contacts in series in said circuit adapted to be closed or opened according to whether said second'control member is out of, or at, its normal position, and means whereby, when said preselector element is at the singleshot" position said circuit, upon energisation, establishes maintaining connections for itself in shunt with said second and third contacts, whereby, for each initiation of energisaticn of said circuit, a projectile must be at the firing position and said manual element must be actuated from the ofi" to the on position.

8. A launching apparatus for projectiles of'the self-propelled type which carry their own propelling charge, comprising locating means adapted to locate each successive projectile at a firing position, feed means adapted to feed the projectiles to said locating means, firing mechanism adapted to be actuated'from a non-operative state to an operative state at which it is adapted to fire a projectile which is at said firing position, a reciprocating'control member normally projecting at an operative position into the path of the projectiles being fed to the firing position, so that said control memher is pressed out of said operative position by direct, engagement by each leading projectile as it approaches the firing position and is permitted to return tosaid operative position by each leading projectile when it reaches said firing position, and means whereby said firing mechanism is adapted to be actuated to the operative state in response to said control member moving into its operative position.

9. A launching apparatus for projectiles of the self-propelled type which carry their own propelling charge, comprising locating means adapted to locate each successive projectile at a firing position, feed means adapted to feed the projectiles to said locating means, firing mechanism adapted to be actuated from a non-operative state to an operative state at which it is adapted to fire a projectile which is at said firing position, a reciprocating control member normally projecting at an operative position into the path of the projectiles being fed to the firing position, so that said control member is pressed out of said operative position by direct engage- I ment by each leading projectile as it approaches the firing position and is permitted to return to said operative position by each leading projectile when it reaches said firing position, said control member when at its operative position retaining said leading round by direct engagement therewith against retrograde movement, and means whereby said firing mechanism is adapted to be actuated to the operative state in response to said control member 'moving into its operative position.

10. A launching apparatus for projectiles of the self-propelled type which carry their own propelling charge, comprising locating means adapted to locate each successive projectile at a firing position, feed means adapted to feed the projectiles to said locating means, firing mechanism adapted to be actuated from a non-operative state to an operative state at which it is adapted to fire a projectile which is at said firing position, a reciprocating control member adapted to be engaged by the projectiles as they are fed to the firing position, said control memto be engaged by the projectiles as they are fed to the firing position, said control member hav- 12 I her having an operative position out of which it is pressed by each leading projectile as it approaches the firing position, and to which it is permitted to return by said leading projectile when it reaches said firing position, mechanical transmission means, whereby said firing mechanism is adapted to be actuated to the operative state in response to said control member moving into its operative position, a recocking shoe which normally projects into the discharge path of the projectilesand is adapted, by each projectile moving forwardly along said discharge path, tc be pressed out of'said discharge path, and mechanical transmission means whereby, in response to said recocking shoe being pressed out of said discharge path said firing mechanism is returned to said non-operative state.

11. A launching apparatus for projectiles of the self-propelled type which carry their own propelling charge, comprising locating means adapted to locate each successive projectile at a firing position, feed means adapted to feed the projectiles to said locating means, firing mechanism adapted to be actuated from a non-operative state to an operative state at which it is adapted to fire a projectile which is at said firing position, a reciprocating control member adapted ing an operative position out of which it is pressed by each leading projectile as it approaches the firing position and to which it is permitted to return by each leading projectile when it reaches said firing position, means whereby said firing mechanism is adapted to be actuated to the operative state in response to said control member moving into its operative position, recocking means adapted, in response to the discharge of each projectile, to return said firing mechanism to the non-operative state, a latching element adapted normally to retain said control member out of said operative position, a manual operating element having an "off position and an on position, a preselector element having an au position and a single-shot" position, and means whereby, when said preselector element is at the single-shot" position, operation of said manual element from the ofF' to the on position, moves said latching element momentarily out of its latching position, thereby permitting said control element to move to its operative position and to be relatched when it next returns to its non-operative position, and when said preselector element is at the auto position, operation of said manual element from the ofi to the on position moves and holds said latching element out of its latching position, thereby permitting said control element to be moved by the projectiles alternately to its operative and non-operative positions, so long as said latch is at the non-latching position.

12. A launching apparatus for projectiles of the self-propelled type which carry their own propelling charge, comprising locating means adapted'to locate each successive projectile at a firing position, feed means adapted to feed the projectiles to said locating means, firing mechanism adapted to be actuated ,froma non-operative state to an operative state-atwhich it-is adapted to fire a projectile which isat said firing position and a spring biased shutter obstructing the path of, and adapted to be pressed aside by, each projectile as it is fired, the spring bias of said shutter being sufllciently heavy to prevent -moves forwardly along said discharge path, to be pressed out of said discharge path, and means whereby, in response to said recocking element being pressed out of said path, said firing mechanism is returned to said non-operative state.

14. A launching apparatus for projectiles of the V self-propelled type which carry their own propelling charge, comprising locating means adapted to locate each successive projectile at a firing position, feed means adapted to feed the projectiles to said locating means, firing mechanism adapted to be actuated from a non-operative state to an operative state at'which it is adapted to fire a projectile which is at said firing position, recocking means adapted, in response to the discharge of each projectile, to return said firing mechanism to said non-operative state, a preselector element having an auto position and a "single-shot position, a manual element having an oil position and an on position, interlock means controlled according to the position of the leading projectile, and means whereby, when said preselector element is at the auto position, and said manual element is at the "on position, said interlock means actuate said firing mechanism to the operative state each time a projectile is fed fully into the firing position. and, when said preselector element is at the "single-shot position, said interlock means prevent said firing mechanism from being actuated to the operative state during the feeding of each projectile into the firing position and until said projectile is fully in said firing position, the operation of said firing mechanism to the operative state then being effected each time said manual element is moved from the off" to the on position.

15. A launching apparatus for projectiles of the self-propelled type which carry their own propelling charge, comprising locating means adapted to locate each successive projectile at a firing position, feed means adapted to feed the projectiles to said locating means, firing mechanism adapted to be actuated from a non-operative state to an operative state at which it is adapted to fire a projectile which is at said firing position, a reciprocating control memberl normally projecting at an operative position into the path of the projectiles being fed to the firing position, so that said control member is pressed out of said operative position by direct engagement by each leading projectile as it approaches the firing position and is permitted to return to said operative position by each leading projectile when it reaches said firing position, and means for preventing the actuation of said firing mechanism to the operative state while said reciproeating control member is out-of said operative position.

'a firing position, feed means adapted to feed the projectiles to said locating means, firing mechanism adapted to be actuated from a non-operative state to an operative; state at which it is adapted to fire a projectile which is at said firing position, an electric circuit, means whereby said firing mechanism is adapted to be actuated to the operative position, in response to the energization of said electric circuit, a reciprocating control member normally projecting at an operative position into the path of the projectiles being fed to the firing position, so that said control member is pressed out of said operative position by direct engagement by each leading projectile as it approaches the firing position and is permitted to return to said operative position by each leading projectile when it reaches said firing position, and switch means operated by said reciprocating control member to insure de-en- 16. A launching apparatus for projectiles of the self-propelled type which carry their own proergization of said circuit when said control memher is out of said operative position.

17. A launching apparatus for projectiles of the self-propelled type which carry their own propelling charge, comprising locating means adapted to locate each successive projectile at a firing position, feed means adapted to feed the projectiles to said locating means, firing mechanism adapted to be actuated from a non-operative state to an operative state at which it is adapted to fire a projectile which is at said firing position, an electric circuit, means whereby said firing mechanism is adapted to be actuated to the operative position in response to the energization of said electric circuit, a reciprocating control member normally projecting at an operative position into the path of the projectiles being fed to the firing position, so that said control member is pressed out of said operative position by direct engagement by each leading projectile as it approaches the firing position and is permitted to return to said operative position by each leading projectile when it reaches said firing position, and switch means operated by said reciprocating control member to insure de-energization of said circuit when said control member is out of said operative position and to effect energization of said circuit when said control member moves into said operative position.

18. A launching apparatus for projectiles of the self-propelled type which carry their own propelling charge, comprising locating means adapted to locate each successive projectile at a firing position, a feed chute along which said projectiles are adapted to be fed to said locating means, firing mechanism adapted to be actuated from a non-operative state to an operative state at which it is adapted to fire a projectile which is at said firing position, a reciprocating control member normally projecting at an operative position into said feed chute so that said control member is pressed out of said operative position by direct engagement by each leading projectile as it approaches the firing position and is permitted to return to said operative position by each leading projectile when it reaches said firing position, and means whereby said firing mechanism is adapted to be actuated to the operative state in response to said control member moving into its operative position.

19. A launchingapparatus for projectiles of the self-propelled type which carry their own propelling charge, comprising locating means adapted to locate each successive projectile at a firing position, feed means adapted to feed the projectiles to said locating means with each sucimmediately moving into firing position upon firing of the preceding projectile, firing mechanism actuatable from a non-operative state to an operative state to fire the projectile which is at said firing position, and a biased member normally obstructing the path of, and displaceable by, each projectile as it is fired, the bias of said member being sufiiciently heavy to prevent each succeeding projectile being drawn forward in the wake of the projectile just fired.

LEWIS MOTLEY.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 439,248 Maxim Oct. 28, 1890 1,315,329 Redpath Sept. 9, 1919 2,112,660 Hudson Mar. 29, 1938 2,122,423 Joyce July 5, 1938 2,391,864 Chandler Jan. 1, 1946 

